Opinion

Karyn Harty, Lesley Caplin and Aaron McCarthy of Dentons consider whether EU law permits member states to ban social media for under-16s. Australia's ban on under-16s using major social media services came into force in December. Hot on the heels of this news, President Macron announced that France

McCann FitzGerald lawyers Mary Brassil, Donal Hamilton, David McCauley, Eleanor Cunningham and Catherine Austin review upcoming changes to mandatory retirement ages. Employers with employees who have contractual retirement ages of 65 or lower should be aware that new legislation will restrict the ci

Erika Guevara Rosas of Amnesty International responds to the Trump administration’s announcement that the US is withdrawing from 66 international organisations, conventions, and treaties. This is a vindictive and reckless assault on the legitimacy and integrity of the United Nations and the ru

Lynda Nyhan, partner and head of the employment team at Taylor Wessing, makes predictions for employment law in 2026. 2025 has been a notable year for employment law in Ireland, with steady progress towards greater workplace flexibility and employee wellbeing.

Joan McCoy of Employee Ownership Ireland urges solicitors in Northern Ireland to highlight the continued benefits of employee ownership in spite of UK tax changes. Last month, Employee Ownership Association held its annual conference in Telford. Although the event offered valuable insights and into

McCann FitzGerald partner Marie-Alice Cleary warns retailers not to fall foul of pricing laws as Black Friday approaches. A trader announcing a price reduction must indicate in the announcement the prior price of the product.

McCann FitzGerald partners Niall Best and Conor Cunningham offer insights into the government’s new public consultation on a life sciences strategy. In a pivotal moment for a sector that employs around 100,000 people in Ireland and delivers close to €100 billion in exports annually, the D

Wider use of community sanctions can help to improve public safety while tackling the prison overcrowding crisis, write Dr Ian Marder, Dr Eoin Guilfoyle, Dr Lousie Kennefick, Dr Niamh Maguire and Professor Nicola Carr. Amid extensive debate on public safety in recent weeks, one proven tool rema

KOD Lyons partner Matthew de Courcy looks back at divorce in early Irish law. The Brehon laws were the legal system of Ireland for over a thousand years, dating back as early as the 1st century AD and continuing in various forms until the 17th century, when they were superseded by English common law

William Fry lawyers Rachel Hayes, Leo Moore and Aoife Keenan explain the key features of the EU's Digital Identity Wallet. The Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, which establishes the European Digital Identity Framework (EUDI Regulation), came into force in May 2024 and will take legal effect across the Eur

Nina M. Hart makes the case for Ireland taking a stronger approach to the enforcement of EU sanctions. Ireland has long maintained a framework for implementing the European Union’s economic sanctions, or restrictive measures, but not prioritised enforcing them.

Carson McDowell solicitor Sophie Hunter reviews a recent English court ruling with significance for developers of major infrastructure projects. In R (on the application of Associated Petroleum Terminals (Immingham) Ltd and Humber Oil Terminals Trustee Ltd) v Secretary of State for Transport [2025]

Dr Barry Scannell of William Fry notes the world's first legislation regulating so-called "AI companions". In the 2013 film Her, a lonely man falls in love with an AI. What once seemed like speculative fiction has edged uncomfortably close to reality.

Scottish lawyer Ronnie Clancy KC analyses the collapse of a prosecution in England brought against two men accused of spying for China. The recently abandoned case against two individuals who were due to stand trial on charges of spying for China is by no means the first prosecution to hit the buffe

Dr Liam O'Driscoll highlights the need for EU-wide reform following a CJEU ruling on an Irish case concerning the compensation of victims of crime for pain and suffering. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), on 2 October 2025, issued a judgment concerning the scope of Member States&rsq